Luke 4:3-4

Luke 4:3-4 

English Standard Version 

  What's the most important thing in daily life?  

  We all answer the question a little differently.  Most of us are simply trying to get our physical needs met -- to keep a roof over our heads, food in the fridge, and the lights on.  These needs can rule our lives -- we chase the means to meet them, and we find ourselves running out of energy simply trying to get by.

  The devil tempts Jesus to let his physical hunger drive his decision making.  But Jesus sees the bigger picture.  He recognizes the importance of food -- think of all the times where Jesus feeds hungry people.  He doesn't say that we don't live by bread -- but not by bread alone.  Bread isn't the most important thing.  When we make it the single most important thing, we fall short of the people we were created to be.  We're striving to meet our needs, but we're also striving to enjoy and serve God.  We're striving for more than just success in this world -- but to grow into the people God created us to be.

  So make time today for more than just bread.

Luke 4:1-2

Luke 4:1-2

English Standard Version 

  This transition always amazes me -- Jesus has just been baptized, and as a celebration, he's immediately driven out into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil, where he eats nothing for 40 days.  Not exactly the honeymoon we'd all want after such a celebration, right?  

  But God so often refines our hearts in the wilderness.  God has work to do on us, to focus us on humility and faithfulness.  We want the celebration, the mountaintop experiences, but God knows those often comes with distractions that pull us farther from God.  God sometimes leads us into desolate places so that we better learn to depend on God alone.  It isn't fun, and can be some of the hardest times of our lives, but God doesn't abandon us there, even in the midst of temptation.  God is with us, nourishing us, encouraging us, whispering to the soul that we might grow into the people God wants us to be.

Luke 3:23-38

Luke 3:23-38 

English Standard Version 

  Jesus is in a long line of faithful people.  The genealogy of Jesus goes all the way back to Adam, back to God -- this plan has been in the works for many centuries, all of it leading up to Jesus.  Adam failed, and that has repercussions echoing through the ages, but that's not the end of the story, because it's all pointing ahead to Jesus.

  One of the interesting things about this lineage to me is that I don't know most of these names -- a few stand out, but most of them are unknown to me.  They probably didn't see themselves as a critical page in the line to the Messiah, but they were part of the story.  

  You are part of the same story, the same family.  Your story may not be known to the whole world, and when others see your name in the list, they may not immediately know who you are... but God includes you in the story, and you matter.  Never forget that.

Luke 3:21–22

Luke 3:21-22 

English Standard Version 

  Imagine what it would've been like to have heard this.  Here is Jesus, having been baptized, and the Holy Spirit is descending while the voice of God cries out in affirmation.  Can it get better than this?  This is a moment to stay in -- gazing upon the face of Jesus, hearing the affirming words of God.  Close your eyes for a minute and be in that place, in that moment.

  The Good News of the Gospel is that this awaits each of us, no matter how deserving we are of such an honor.  We don't belong there on our own merits, but because Christ was willing to die for us, we have access to such privilege.  God speaks to us in the same way, affirming God's pleasure with us, and the same Holy Spirit descends upon us.  God wants this for you.  Jesus died to give this to you.  What a pure gift.  Let it lift up your spirit, lift up your soul.